#figurehead dog

Figurehead dogs

Otherworldly dog-like entities from the redacted timeline of Eudaimonia. Their presence can induce from faint trust to zealous worship in mortals. They are often called “order elementals,” “law elementals,” or something along the lines. A more accurate, less misleading terminology for them would be “platonic-ideal elementals.”

Noteworthy figurehead dogs are called Archons. The central figure in their religion is the Demiurge, who sits and weeps in malaise. It is known they exist in some capacity. It is not known where they are.

There is strong metaphysical evidence that the Demiurge may be Eudaimonia itself.

Known entities

Designed another horrible cosmic dog for the Creepypasta Dog Universe. His name is Voluptuary. He is a “fallen” Figurehead Dog. Figurehead Dogs "fall” by being publicly vilified from a Figurehead Dog group. There are many reasons why a Figurehead Dog is a potential candidate for public ostracism. Intimate human contact is one of the Big Ones. However, Figurehead Dogs are generally mean, even to each other, so the reasons can get arbitrary and petty.

"Fallen” Figurehead Dogs are more communicative to us than their “Upstanding” brethren, because they are not bound by Figurehead Dog Social Rules and also because their lives depend on it. Talking to them can be strange. They are charismatic but in a pretentious, educated way. They are hedonistic but engage their indulgences with an aloof detachment. Even if they have an interest in Material Things, it is with a cold analytical curiosity unique to higher-dimensional beings.

Sort of like how an entomologist looks at a bug.

Anyway!

Otherwise, they are not much different from “normal” Figurehead Dogs save for the fact, they can quickly become inert unless one of the two things happens: 1) the Figurehead Dog who condemned them rescinds their Cosmic Judgement (unlikely); 2) they get ritualistic acknowledgement. Otherwise, they just turn into statues forever until some people come across their quasi-corpses and worship them back to life.

Foolish humans in no short supply would love to weasel their way into a fallen Figurehead Dog’s good graces because they are full of cosmic secrets. Unfortunately, the bargain is never truly even. Enthrallment is unavoidable part of the bargain and the most scary part is: it is not a conscious choice on part of Figurehead Dog (Figurehead Dogs, while callous, are generally apathetic and aloof rather than actively evil).

It is sort of like looking at a really cool space photo from NASA and going “oh my God, space is awesome! I love it!” Now imagine that feeling intensified to infinity (or at least a huge number). Now imagine that feeling is directed at an amoral horse-dog. Yes, Voluptuary has a cult (it is sort of an artist’s colony-type). No, it is not fun or cool, and in fact, existentially terrifying (and regular terrifying).

I was in a Figurehead Dog mood. I was also in a designy mood. I needed more Figurehead Dog characters to populate the Creepypasta Dog Universe and the story brewing in my head. I also wanted to experiment with weirder shapes. Snakey jackal-y shapes are a cool design but I felt like I done a lot of them. I want to do more.

I also wanted to figure out what basal design elements are conserved despite the Weirdness. They are still “order” elementals, after all. I think the conserved elements are metallic jewelry (gold/bronze mainly), limited color palette (stark-white with the barest whiff of colors and maybe iridescence, if you are feeling particularly fancy), and self-mortification-style body horror (a la Hellraiser).

Figurehead Dogs generally have poetry as names -- similes, metaphors, and other types of aesthetically-pleasing figures of speech. The names can get very clunky and very long so they often go by nicknames, which often take inspiration from what they do, what their look inspires, or some combination of the two.

Figurehead dogs with a penchant for self-mortification and fancy jewelry. They are “order” elementals who staunchly oppose and fight entropy. They can range from persnickety bullies to fussy philosophers, but you probably shouldn’t talk to them anyway. They not only don’t “get” mortals, but they absolutely do not care to learn. We are too unpredictable for their tastes, you see.

Other Factoids. They are mildly telepathic and must travel in groups. Being alone causes them to have nervous breakdowns. They emit a psychic haze that causes them to be forgettable. Their innards and blood is a dark, almost-black blue. The figureheads vary in appearance and but do not reflect the actual gender of such beings. However, the figureheads can manipulate objects and can speak.

Although they never, ever emote.